Reports today say the Big Ten Conference has offered membership to four colleges: Notre Dame, Rutgers, Missouri and Nebraska. If all four schools accept the offer, a fifth school would be offered to bring the Big Ten to 16 teams (and eight teams each in two divisions in football).

So, what to make of this?

For one, Rutgers is good get to add the New York market to the Big Ten and its Big Ten Network.

Secondly, Notre Dame is a 50-50 on this, and I'm leaning toward a no-go to join the Big Ten. Why should Notre Dame share football bowl and TV money? And the loss of just Rutgers would not cripple the Big East, which Notre Dame is a member of in all sports except football.

Missouri and Nebraska must be a package deal, as the two are geographically linked to Iowa.

Finally, this plan, if true, leaves Pitt on the outside. No doubt the Big Ten believes it already has the Pennsylvania market.

Expect movement on this next month, when the Big Ten Conference meets in Chicago, which is oh-so-close to South Bend.